Good kicking gone bad

by broncosfaninphilly on Dec 8, 2008 7:11 PM MST

Hi everyone

just sitting here reading posts and the bad news about peyton hillis.

everyone seems to be caught up in the hillis news and what to do

at running back now and what our playoff chances will be Etc....

But what is getting lost in all of this is the broncos might be on verge

of kicking problems . And It Is happening at the worst possible time.

Did anyone notice A kicker in A slump. ?pratter started out great but what

is wrong now .? He Is missing kicks regulary ;And the kickoffs are getting

shorter and shorter . This is the time we will need every possible points

and edge in every game here on out because the weather nationally will

be getting worse especially on the east coast ( buffalo bills) Game soon

And the real problem here is that pratter is all the broncos have .there

Is no backup to come in and save the day at this position .right ? The broncos

have to get this guy right in a hurry . Did anyone see any TV interviews talking

to pratter about his problems or confidence issues? Am i over reacting or

is this a legit problem with him ?

Any thoughts on whats happening with him ?

broncosfaninphilly

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Comments

A little bit of overreacting, I think.

IIRC he’s 6th in touchbacks so his leg strength is fine (shorter kickoffs happen more toward the cold season). And he’s still got a decent average on his FGs. His problems are probably mental at this points (shanks, yips, whatever you want to call it), but that will pass and he should be hitting his stride in the next couple of years when this team is ready for their Superbowl run. I’d hate to be breaking in a new kicker then.

Plus Elam wasn’t great his rookie year either. We forget how average he was because he was so awesome his last 10 years in Denver. We got spoiled by Jason Elam.

We know Prater’s got the leg and the physical attributes to make the kicks & kickoffs, he gets to make rookie mistakes too.

Owning the Patriots since September 9, 1960

by Darin H on Dec 8, 2008 7:31 PM MST reply actions

That happened in the loss to the Raiders.

He said that with the wind that was blowing that day that he thought about it too much and overcompensated for it resulting in the miss. Every kicker has their bad times. He’ll be just fine. As you said, there is nothing wrong with his leg strength. It’s not like his FGs are short or blocked.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 6

by weazel on Dec 8, 2008 7:45 PM MST up reply actions

I am not bashing pratter I am just concerned

  The position is so critical we cannot really afford many mistakes
     I am just frustrated . I am glad that the KC game the diffrence didnt come down
    to that missed FG right ? I know all he needs is to put a couple of good kicks together
    at diffrent distances to regain his confidence back . hopefully a game winner !

by broncosfaninphilly on Dec 8, 2008 8:05 PM MST reply actions

I think some concern is needed...

He is 4 of 11 I believe from 40-49 yards out, which, for kickers, is the money territory. It’s all well and good if he’s 5 for 5 from beyond 50, but if you can’t hit from the mid-range then you’ve got problems.

We did see some of this with Elam at the beginning of his career and it got worked out over time, but for now it looks like he’s gonna have to start hitting them during the game to get some confidence or something. Right now, he’s turning into a basket case – a guy who can hit from 70 in practice, but misses from 30 in the game.

I heard on the radio in town some guys were asking an ex-football coach what is the best solution to a a kicking problem.

The coaches answer? Get a new kicker.

by binford04 on Dec 8, 2008 8:11 PM MST reply actions

WOW to that last part coaches answer BIN

by broncosfaninphilly on Dec 8, 2008 8:14 PM MST up reply actions

Logan said on the radio

that Shanny had already said as much…

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 8, 2008 8:44 PM MST up reply actions

Here are Praters numbers so far this season.

20-39: 13 for 15
40-49: 3 for 8
50+: 5 for 5

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 6

by weazel on Dec 8, 2008 9:11 PM MST up reply actions

For comparison....

Elam’s numbers from 1993:

20-39: 18 for 19
40-49: 4 for 10
50+: 4 for 6

Total: 26 for 35 (74%)

Owning the Patriots since September 9, 1960

by Darin H on Dec 9, 2008 10:19 AM MST up reply actions

After his miss from 49

I said that they should have backed up a couple more yards so that it would be over 50 and he would have no problem hitting it!

"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game

"I love your analysis of our team. Its kinda like watching a spider monkey trying to figure out a jar of peanuts.. you know whats going on.. you know whats in there, but to actually figure it out, is just a bit beyond your mental skills..."
- Bronco Dano

by DesertBroncoFan on Dec 9, 2008 1:00 PM MST up reply actions

He has a good stroke

just needs to trust it

"His incredible impact during the late '60s and early-to-mid-'70s saved the franchise from relocation and helped the Broncos become the marquee organization it is today." Floyd Little's Tales From The Broncos Sideline

by Steve O' on Dec 8, 2008 8:11 PM MST reply actions